Meet the people who work for Bioneers
JP HARPIGNIES
Conference Associate Producer
Bioneer since 1990 JP is a consultant, conference producer, copy-editor and writer. He is the author of three books: Political Ecosystems, Double Helix Hubris, and most recently, Delusions of Normality, as well as the editor of the collection, Visionary Plant Consciousness, and associate editor of the first two Bioneers books: Ecological Medicine and Nature's Operating Instructions.
He was formerly a program director at the New York Open Center and founder/co-producer of the Eco-Metropolis conference in NYC. JP taught t'ai chi chuan in Brooklyn, NY for nearly 25 years.
ARTY MANGAN
Program Director, Restorative Food Systems
Bioneer since 1998
Arty oversees the Restorative Development Initiative, which produced “Wisdom at the End of Hoe” ecological agricultural workshops.
Arty has worked with farmers and agriculture since 1978 as a partner in Live Juice, a fresh, local, organic apple juice company in Santa Cruz. In 1986, he joined Odwalla and was in charge of fruit sourcing, working with farmers in the US, Mexico and Costa Rica. He collaborated with John Mohawk and the Iroquois White Corn Project and worked with The Federation of Southern Cooperatives and African American farmers in Mississippi and Alabama.
He is a board member of the Ecological Farming Association, and was a member of the Santa Cruz GE Subcommittee that led to a Precautionary Moratorium on growing genetically engineered crops in Santa Cruz County.
Favorite Causes: Food & Farming.
KELLI BARR
Conference Project Manager
Bioneer since 1999
Kelli works with the programming team for the Bioneers Conference. She is the communications liaison with all scheduled speakers, and she manages the large work-exchange crew who work with us each year.
Kelli’s previous professional experience was at EcoWorks Multimedia (a nonprofit project of the Tides Center) as assistant to the director, where she was responsible for office management, managing an organizational outreach program, supervising staff and intern schedules and editing manuscripts. Kelli has a B.A. in History from Salem State College, and is a certified dog trainer.
When not in the office, Kelli enjoys cooking healthy meals, backpacking and hiking with her dogs, and playing ice hockey.
Favorite Causes: Wildlife Biodiversity, Organic Food and Farming, Labeling of Genetically Modified Foods, Global Warming.
GINGER WILLIAMS
Sales & Event Manager
Bioneer since 2007
Ginger works with the amazing group of companies that comprise the Bioneers sponsors, exhibitors, and auction donors. She is also a key member of the Bioneers Conference production team.
Ginger's degree is in Sport Management from UMASS Amherst, where her focus was event production and facility management. Her previous professional experience includes the Sydney Olympics, Host Communication's Soccer and Hoop it UP Basketball Tournaments, and the Willy's Fitness Center chain on Cape Cod.
She enjoys rock climbing, sewing, and cycling–when she’s not saving the world from 9-to-5 or being a super-mom to her son.
Favorite Cause: World Peace.
NIKKI SPANGENBURG
Program Co-Director, Resilient Communities and Dreaming New Mexico
Bioneer since 2008
Nikki is the Co-Director for Resilient Communities and Dreaming New Mexico, which has received such acclaim and international recognition.
With a Bachelor's in Business Administration, she has been working in project and event management for more than 15 years. She lives in Santa Fe with her husband and two children.
Favorite Causes: Systems Thinking and Planning; Energy, Food, and Water.
SHANNON LALIBERTE PARKS
Director of Donor Development
Bioneer since 2011
Shannon cultivates philanthropic partnerships between Bioneers and our very generous donors. To maintain, grow and diversify multiple revenue streams for the long-term sustainability of Bioneers, Shannon manages annual fundraising campaigns, special events, major gifts cultivation and solicitation, and stewardship of donor relations at the annual conference.
Shannon has a BA in Religious Studies from the University of New Mexico and an MA in Activism and Social Change from New College of California.
Shannon’s history of social change work is expansive and varied. Her most challenging experiences include serving as a Rape-Crisis Counselor and Co-Coordinator of an environmental justice program connecting non-Native women attorneys with Indigenous women on the frontlines of environmental destruction. Shannon believes deeply that by challenging environmental degradation, we can address a web of interrelated issues. Shannon’s personal life is full of crafting and spending time with her husband and close friends.
Favorite Causes: Anti-Oppression, Women’s Rights, Craftivism, Environmental Justice.
CARA ROMERO
Program Director, Indigeneity
Bioneer since 2011
Cara is a recognized Tribal leader and Tribal member of the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe, where she served for many years as a Council Member and Cultural Center Executive Director.
She is a Native American professional with a background in creative planning and development, art direction, administration, outreach and execution of multiple marketing plan initiatives for “hard-to-reach” audiences. Recently, Cara collaborated with The Cultural Conservancy in funding, editing, and producing the short documentary, The Old Woman Mountains, featuring the Tribe’s traditional funeral rite singers.
Cara has a degree in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Houston, as well as degrees in documentary and commercial photography from the Institute of American Indian Arts and Oklahoma State University. She has also studied Native art, cultural anthropology, new media, documentary photography, and graphic design.
Favorite Causes: Land & Water conservation.
CANDY CARLSON
Development Associate
Bioneer since 2013
Candy works to build, maintain and retain Bioneers donor relationships. She assists with various departmental projects, processes gifts, acknowledges these gifts, responds to donation related inquiries, and reaches out to offer gratitude to Bioneers donors.
Candy is dedicated to social change and has worked for nonprofits for more than 15 years. She has held previous positions in Development with the Museum of the African Diaspora, Santa Fe Community Foundation, Crow Canyon Archeological Center, and Santa Fe Children’s Museum.
Candy has an MA in Museum Studies from San Francisco State University and a BA in Art from California State University Hayward.
In her free time, Candy pursues her love of photography, hikes, and volunteers for local nonprofits.
Favorite Causes: Immigration reform, education, and art as a means for social justice.
A. TYLER CAMPBELL
Digital Projects Associate
YOLANDA RAWLINGS
Product Manager
TYSON RUSSELL
Digital Content Manager
WHITNEY MERCHANT
Marketing & Communications Manager
